Dell updates Latitude, Precision and Vostro notebooks for professionals and businesses
Dell has unveiled its updated line-up of notebooks for professionals and enterprises. It has even taken design cues from its XPS series of consumer notebooks and included support for Thunderbolt 3 on the majority of the new notebooks.
Dell has updated its Latitude series of business notebooks with the latest Intel processors and support for USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3.
It seems like Dell is setting out to revamp the dreary image of enterprise notebooks and devices. The company today unveiled its updated line-up of Latitude and Precision notebooks, taking cues from the lookbook of its much-vaunted XPS series of consumer ultrabooks. This means that ultra-thin designs, carbon fiber finishes, and even gorgeous edge-to-edge displays are in, while functional but chunky-looking designs are out.
Latitude series
Dell’s Latitude notebooks are built around three pillars – security, manageability, and reliability. The new Latitude 3000, 5000, and 7000 notebooks now sport refreshingly thin and light designs, in addition to improved efficiency and performance thanks to the latest sixth-generation Intel processors. Thunderbolt 3 and USB Type-C are also a dominant theme going forward, and the majority of Dell’s notebooks come equipped with the latest ports.
Of particular note was the new Latitude 12 7000, a 12.5-inch rival to the Microsoft Surface Pro 4. Powered by a sixth-generation Intel Core M processor, it can be configured with up to a 512GB PCIe SSD. It is available with either a 4K or 1080p IPS display, favoring a 16:9 aspect ratio over the Surface Pro 4’s 4:3 display.
Here's a look at the Dell Latitude 12 7000 sitting in the docking keyboard. There is no option to fold the screen over to stow it away, and the dock is intended as part of a deskbound workstation.
The 2-in-1 hybrid also supports two different types of keyboards – a dock with a rigid keyboard, and a foldable one similar to Microsoft’s Type Cover keyboard. Both keyboards will have to be purchased separately, and Dell says that it is offering the two options to suit different types of customers, namely, those who want to take the keyboard with them and those who do most of their typing at their desk.
The Latitude 12 7000 is available now at S$2,562.
Dell further highlighted the Latitude 13 7000, a virtual XPS ultrabook lookalike that is available with up to a 3,200 x 1,800 pixel touchscreen display. At 1.12kg, it is the smallest and lightest business notebook on the market. It features a woven carbon fiber shell and can be configured with up to an Intel Core i7 processor. In addition, there is support for Intel wireless technologies like WiGig via Dell’s WiGig dock for a more productive and wire-free setup.
The Latitude 13 7000 bears a close resemblance to the Dell XPS 13.
Dell says that we can expect the Latitude 13 7000 to be available in the coming weeks, with pricing to be announced upon availability.
Here's a table listing the prices of the other Latitude notebooks, all of which are available to buy now:
Model | Price (S$) |
Latitude 12 7000 Series (E7270) | $1,990 |
Latitude 14 7000 Series (E7470) | $2,081 |
Latitude 12 5000 Series (E5270) | $1,704 |
Latitude 14 5000 Series (E5470) | $2,145 |
Latitude 15 5000 Series (E5570) | $2,035 |
Latitude 14 3000 Series (E3470) | $1,066 |
Latitude 15 3000 Series (E3570) | $1,068 |
Latitude 11 5000 Series 2-in-1 (5175) | $1,587 |
Precision series
The Precision series of workstation notebooks are targeted at creative professionals who require extra graphics computing heft for their work, featuring a combination of NVIDIA Quadro graphics and Intel Xeon mobile processors. And if we thought that the new Latitude notebooks resembled Dell’s XPS ultrabooks, some of the Precision notebooks are veritable clones.
Dell singled out the Precision 15 5510, a 15.6-inch notebook that can be equipped with up to a 3,840 x 2,160 pixel IGZO3 touchscreen panel. At just 16.85mm at its thickest, this is one of the slimmest mobile workstations out there. It can be configured with up to an Intel Xeon mobile processor, 32GB of DDR4 ECC RAM, and an NVIDIA Quadro M1000M graphics card.
The Precision 15 5510 even sports a similar carbon fiber finish as the XPS notebooks.
It is even available with the Linux or Ubuntu operating systems, so professionals will have plenty of choice. Dell is also fully onboard the USB Type-C train, and the Precision 15 5510, like the Latitude series notebooks, features a Thunderbolt 3 port that can output over DisplayPort to a compatible monitor.
The Precision 15 7510 was also on display. While it is less eye-catching than the XPS-inspired Precision 15 5510, it supports more powerful configuration options. For instance, you can order it with 64GB of DDR4 RAM and an NVIDIA Quadro M2000M card.
The Dell Precision 15 7510 is available with up to 64GB of DDR4 memory.
Dell also introduced us to something called Reliable Memory Technology (RMT) on its Precision workstations. The ability to detect and prevent DIMM errors is crucial in high-performance workstations, and RMT essentially maps, reports, and then removes unusable memory sections to prevent errors.
Here's a table with the launch prices of all the Precision series notebooks. All of the notebooks are available to buy now.
Model | Price (S$) |
Dell Precision 17 7710 | $3,843 |
Dell Precision 15 7510 | $3,604 |
Dell Precision 15 5510 | $4,207 |
Dell Precision 15 3510 | $2,378 |
Vostro series
The Dell Vostro 14 5000 is available in gold if you opt for the touchscreen version. (Image Source: Dell)
Finally, Dell detailed its Vostro line-up of notebooks tailored specifically for small businesses as opposed to large enterprises. By removing certain security features that are less crucial to small enterprises, Dell hopes to provide a more cost-effective but equally reliable solution.
The 14-inch Vostro 14 5000 is crafted from anodized aluminum and sports an attractive brushed metal design. It can be equipped with up to an Intel Core i7-6500U processor, 8GB of DDR3L RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The display configuration is available with a modest 1,920 x 1080 pixels, although a separate touchscreen option is available with a lower resolution 1,366 x 768 pixel panel.
The Vostro 14 5000 sports a brushed metal finish on its palm rests. (Image Source: Dell)
Compared to its predecessor, the Vostro 14 5000 sports other improvements like more reliable Wi-Fi connections thanks to higher throughput over its 2x2 wireless module, and a more sturdy base that reduces any flexing or creaking.
There’s also the Vostro 14 3000, which is available with a sixth-generation Intel Core i7 processor and up to 8GB of DDR3L RAM. However, the brushed metal look on the Vostro 14 5000 has been replaced with a micro-stripe textured cover that resists scratches. In addition, the screen is only available with a top resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels.
The Vostro 14 3000 has a more utilitarian design. (Image Source: Dell)
Both models are already available to buy now. The Vostro 14 5000 costs S$1,189, while the Vostro 14 3000 is slightly cheaper at S$1,119.
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